Official who resigned starts fund to 'expose/eliminate corruption' in state contracts

A GoFundMe account on behalf of a former top official at the Arizona Department of Administration asks for donations to help "expose" and "eliminate corruption" of high-level politicians and employees.(Photo: Michael Schennum/The Republic)

A GoFundMe account on behalf of a former top official at the Arizona Department of Administration asks for donations to help "expose" and "eliminate corruption" of high-level politicians and employees.

The fund for Ashoke Seth, who resigned as the state procurement administrator on Feb. 20, had raised $1,093 out of a $20,000 goal in its first day, as of Wednesday morning. Ten people had donated.

The fundraising plea features Seth's picture and a paragraph that says he was "wrongfully terminated" because he "was not willing to allow corruption in procurement" at the state.

Seth, who led a team renegotiating state contracts, declined to comment to The Arizona Republic. State contracts can be lucrative, worth millions of dollars.

'Whistleblower complaint' filed

The money is intended to be spent on legal fees, the GoFundMe page says. He also has filed a "whistleblower complaint" with the state, the page says. A spokeswoman for the Department of Administration did not immediately respond to The Republic's request for a copy of that complaint.

"The support will allow me to get the facts out in front of a judge/jury and expose/eliminate corruption by high level politicians and employees in government," the page says.

It goes on to say he has a hearing March 28.

The interim director of the Arizona Personnel Board said Wednesday that the hearing before the board has been postponed. "A new hearing date is pending," said Robin Van Staeyen. She said the hearing will be public unless one of the parties requests a confidential hearing.

When asked if he was aware of the referenced claims of "corruption," Gov. Doug Ducey's spokesman, Daniel Scarpinato, first said he could not discuss personnel matters.

But on Wednesday, Ducey's office released a memo from Gilbert Davidson, the governor's Chief Operating Officer. He also serves as the interim director of the state Department of Administration following the abrupt — and unexplained —departure of former Director Craig Brown.

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The Feb. 19 memo from Davidson to the state's assistant director of Human Resources carried the subject of "State Procurement Office" and said "there has been and continues to be a failure of proper management oversight" within the procurement office.

He wrote that the office "consistently captures my attention as an area ripe for improvement" and that officials were "moving with urgency to make reforms and improvements."

To do so, Davidson wrote, Seth "will be removed immediately" based on a failure to properly manage the office. He said an organization chart promoted dysfunction, earlier reviews of the office found deficiencies and a purchasing card had been suspended.

"These basic management responsibilities have not been handled appropriately and cannot be ignored," Davidson wrote.

Seth did not respond to The Republic's request for comment.

Megan Rose, the spokeswoman for the Department of Administration, did not respond to The Republic's email asking if officials there were aware of allegations about corruption. She referred a request for Seth's whistleblower complaint to the state personnel board, which did not immediately respond.

Resignation came following concerns raised by Shooter

Seth resigned on Feb. 20 from the state via a brief handwritten resignation on lined paper.

Rep. Don Shooter drops his microphone after giving a statement during a vote on whether to remove him from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Don Shooter drops his microphone after giving a statement during a vote on whether to remove him from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita watches as Rep. Don Shooter leaves after he voted "no" during a vote on whether to remove him from office on Feb. 1, 2018 at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita stands with legislators during prayer before a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita (right) waits before a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Arizona House Speaker J.D. Mesnard talks with Minority Leader Rebecca Rios before a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita (right) waits before a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Don Shooter waits before a vote on whether to remove him from office on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita is seen in the foreground. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita (right) waits before a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. David Stringer explains his "no" vote during a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Minority Leader Rebecca Rios watches during a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Minority Leader Rebecca Rios speaks during a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic

Rep. Kelly Townsend explains her "yes" vote during a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. The House voted to expel Shooter from office. Sean Logan/The Republic

Speaker J.D. Mesnard explains his "yes" vote during a vote on whether to remove Rep. Don Shooter from office on Feb. 1, 2018, at the Arizona House of Representatives chambers in Phoenix. The House voted to expel Shooter from office. Sean Logan/The Republic

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Leading up to the expulsion vote, Shooter said that beyond the sexual-harassment allegations, his alleged rivals were politically motivated to see him ousted because of what he claimed were "suspicious" state contracts awarded out of favoritism to companies that have ties to Ducey or other state officials.

He said he brought up his concerns about state procurement with the governor's administration more than 20 times during meetings and phone calls.

Scarpinato has previously said Shooter's accusations were "completely false" and said Shooter was "absent even one kernel of credibility or integrity."